Chase Edmonds, the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, leads Fordham into FCS playoff game against Chattanooga on Saturday.

"There's a lot I have to be thankful for," says Chase Edmonds, a sophomore tailback for Fordham. Campus is quiet as he leaves the practice field's lights for shadows leading to the Rose Hill gymnasium's basement. It is the night before Thanksgiving. He is draped in maroon from shoulders to shoes, and starts to count his blessings: a healthy 8-month-old daughter named Avery, a Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Award in hand and an FCS playoff game against Chattanooga coming up Saturday. His cleats click and clack on the concrete. "I'm proud to be able to practice on Thanksgiving. Never had that chance in high school."

Edmonds, 19, flashes back to last year's holiday practice. There was snow on the ground. He followed his blockers two days later to rush for 91 yards in a win over Sacred Heart. The next week, he outdistanced defenders for 208 rushing yards and 164 yards on kick returns in a loss to the University of New Hampshire. His season done, he refused to idle. Nine days later, he was named the Jerry Rice Award winner as the nation's top freshman in the FCS. He reflected on his route to the podium, from overlooked recruit standing 5-foot-9 to learning that he would be a father days before the season opener. He gashed the first defense he saw, going for 300 all-purpose yards to earn a start in his second game, only to be bottled up for negative five yards on nine carries in a loss. Holes opened thereon as he gained 1,838 yards in his first campaign. His lone regret was a missed call en route to pick up the Rice award at a dinner in Philadelphia. While riding in a car with a coach, Edmonds fell asleep. Rice phoned Edmonds to alert him that he would not be able to attend the function, and his number registered as "Unknown" on Edmonds' screen. He never heard it and Rice left Edmonds a message. Edmonds remains miffed at himself for missing the Hall of Famer. Rice followed up with well wishes on Twitter.

"That call still makes me sick," Edmonds says.

Edmonds continued to turn the stomachs of opposing defensive coordinators this season. He worked on strengthening his legs, squatting over 400 pounds and tipping the scales at 202 pounds in training camp. He then trimmed four pounds to be more comfortable in making his bursts, and charted a successful course again. He wove his way through West Point's defenses up the Hudson with 126 yards in the opener, but the Rams fell to Villanova once again in Week 2. He managed 74 yards, but rebounded to top 200 yards against both Lafayette and Penn. Those were nice pickups, but the definitive performance of his season came versus Lehigh. Handed the ball 31 times, he gained 347 rushing yards, running for scores of 9, 60 and 75 yards. It was a new Patriot League record, and broke the previous Fordham record of 272 yards set in 1985. He also caught two passes for 55 yards. His all-purpose performance totaled 402 yards. It broke his standard from the UNH playoff game.

"I expect it from him because he expects it of himself," Fordham coach Joe Moorhead says.

The toughness and determination traces back to his home in Harrisburg, Pa. His father, Reggie, builds tractor-trailers, but he gave birth to a boy with sports car speed. The son could not overtake his father in a footrace until he was 14, and father taught son a lesson in endurance long before. During Edmonds' first football practice as a youth, he took a hit and cried. He moaned that he did not want to return, but his father insisted he finish what he started. Edmonds did, and he carried that ethos to Central Dauphin East, where he took a kickoff back 98 yards in his first game as a high school player. Known around town, he failed to attract the Division I scholarship offers he chased after. Fordham offensive coordinator Andrew Breiner learned of Edmonds from a coach they shared. The knock on Edmonds was speed, but Breiner, from the same area, noticed him taking a run around the corner on a defense known for its athleticism.

"I remember halfway through his highlight tape, he ran around Susquehanna Township's defense," Breiner says. "There were plenty of guys with angles on him, but he was fast enough to play."

The nation has yet to catch up with Edmonds since. His legs are fresh again heading into the playoff game, having rested last week with Fordham's rare bye to end the regular season. He visited his daughter in Harrisburg, and noted an activity level familiar to those tracking his movements these days.